RIR Roosters for meat?

[daeichler]

I am wanting to get some birds for meat. First time. If we are looking at butchering the birds at about 8 weeks, and they will all be roosters, would RIRs be a good choice?

Thanks!!

David

 

[MissPrissy]

No. They won't be much bigger than those little game hens at the grocery store and the breast will be almost all bone. Very little meat there at all.

If you want to butcher at 8 weeks get a cornish cross and feed it out 8 weeks. You will get a 4 - 6 pound chicken with nice heafty breast. You'll be lucky if a RIR weighs in at 2 lbs at 8 weeks.

You will be sadly disappointed in a RIR carcass.

 

[daeichler]

Thanks so much for that feedback. I have an almost 6-year old daughter and this will be her first experience with chickens, and I wanted it to be a good one. I had been told that RIRs are very gentle birds and, with handling, can become quite friendly. Is the same true with the cornish cross (roosters)?

 

[fullhouse]

Our RIR boys are pure evil(now 12 weeks), the only ones that will bite my 10yo dd. In fact they turn as soon as she gets close and attack her with their baby spurs. They will be dinner at the end of the month.

Cornish X will be docile. If you want to have a pet maybe get a couple nice pullets with some meat birds. Cochins are downright cuddly, and you can keep them rather than eat them all.

 

[PurpleChicken]

We've culled a few RIR roos from 8 to 16 weeks. Yeah, in comparison to a Cornish X
they look like a seagull.

They still made a good pot of soup. I wouldn't recommend frying or baking them that
small.

Since your question is "Would RIR's be a good choice" the answer is a definate no.

 

[daeichler]

Thanks, everyone, for your input! Cornish x it will be...

 

[menageriemama]

Just as an aside, are you going to order any egg layers? I agree with what everyone else said about meat birds, but I was just thinking about your small daughter. Maybe you could order a couple of orpingtons or banties for her to "keep". In my experience, you dont want your kids to bond with dinner

Best of luck with your birds!!

 

[daeichler]

I do want to get some egg layers, but do not have time to build a coop at this time...just a short term chicken tractor, this way there is nothing to winter over. Hopefully this Spring will yield enough time to put together a coop... Thanks!

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